By: Valentia Tetteh
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, of misleading health professionals with claims that the government has secured financial clearance for their recruitment and the payment of outstanding arrears.
The accusation follows a press briefing by the Health Minister on Monday, October 13, during which he announced that Cabinet had approved financial clearance for the employment of various categories of health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
However, at a counter press conference in Parliament, the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and MP for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, dismissed the Minister’s announcement as misleading and politically motivated.
Dr. Afriyie argued that the financial clearance for the recruitment of health workers had already expired on December 31, 2024, under the previous administration, and claimed the current government failed to renew it. He explained that although funds had earlier been allocated for the recruitment of about 15,000 health professionals, only 7,000 to 8,000 were employed before the end of the previous administration’s tenure. The remaining personnel, he noted, were later engaged by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), even though their clearances had lapsed.
“The money was already allocated for 15,000 recruits. You came in, and about 7,000 or 8,000 had started. The remaining was employed by the GHS, and although they were late, they were at post,” Dr. Afriyie stated. “You didn’t see the need to reject them, and neither did the institutions. So, what sort of cabinet approval do you now need when clearance has already been granted?” he questioned.
The Minority contends that funds are already available for the affected workers and sees no justification for the Minister’s move to seek new Cabinet approval.
Dr. Afriyie further accused the government of creating confusion in the health sector employment process and attempting to “cover up a mess” that has persisted for months.
“He’s throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians. The government created a problem and is now trying to fix it after ten months,” he alleged.
The Minority is therefore calling on the Health Minister to clarify the true status of financial clearances and arrears payments for health professionals, urging him to provide accurate and transparent information to the public.
